Following the address written on the sign, Shen Moxi found one of the shop's owners, Mr. Zhang, Zhang Zhaozhi.
Zhang Zhaozhi was a refined-looking middle-aged man in his forties who wore glasses.
Shen Moxi approached with a smile. "Hello, Mr. Zhang. My husband and I came to ask about renting your shop."
Zhang Zhaozhi smiled and shook hands with Song Qi and Shen Moxi. "Please come in, both of you. Let's sit down and talk."
"Here's the situation. A friend and I owned that shop together, but because business was poorly managed, disagreements and conflicts arose between us, and we couldn't carry on anymore, so we closed it. We originally intended to sell it, but the price was a little high, and no one bought it. So I paid him for his half out of my own pocket and bought it. For now, I've decided to try renting it out." Mr. Zhang adjusted his glasses, found a sheet of paper, and handed it to them. "Have a look."
Shen Moxi took it and read the sloppily written terms: the shop's monthly rent was one hundred yuan, with a six-month rental term. No overdue payments were allowed; the rent had to be paid in full before the premises could be used.
After reading it, Shen Moxi understood why no one had rented it. These terms were rather harsh. A hundred yuan a month was nearly two months' wages for an ordinary worker, and six months had to be paid at once. Who could come up with that much money in one go?
After reading it, Shen Moxi leaned toward Song Qi's ear and told him the rent and rental term, asking what he thought.
Song Qi nodded after listening and thought it over. Although it was expensive, the location was good and had plenty of foot traffic. Over six months, they should be able to multiply that money several times over, but they didn't have enough on hand. They were still a little short.
After discussing it with Shen Moxi, Song Qi nodded at her. "We're still a little short. I'll negotiate with him some more."
After thinking it over, Shen Moxi looked at him. "Mr. Zhang, my husband and I have discussed it and decided to rent the place. Could you lower the rent a little? The price you've set really is rather high."
A bitter expression crossed Mr. Zhang's face. "Young comrade, you must have seen the shop. It's in a good location, and it's spacious. To tell you the truth, we're renting it out because we're both leaving this place to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Otherwise, I'd keep running it myself. The price is already low enough."
Shen Moxi was all smiles on the outside while inwardly cursing. "I just worked it out. Six months' rent is six hundred yuan, which really is expensive. If you pass me up, who knows whether you'll manage to rent it out over the next few months? You'd lose quite a bit of money for nothing."
Hearing that, Mr. Zhang thought this young woman was terribly shrewd. He sighed. "Then what sort of discount do you want? Let's hear it."
Shen Moxi took out her shoulder bag and emptied out all the money inside. "Mr. Zhang, I have a little over four hundred yuan here, which isn't enough for your six months' rent. Could I give you four hundred now and the remaining two hundred by the day after tomorrow at the latest? And add another half month to the rental term."
"Well..." Mr. Zhang pushed up his glasses, putting on a troubled expression.
Shen Moxi rolled her eyes furiously inwardly. Merchants really were the most unscrupulous. She deliberately sighed. "Oh, since that puts you in a difficult position, Mr. Zhang, we'll look somewhere else. Let's go, Brother Song."
Song Qi put the money back into the shoulder bag, stood up, and followed her. Seeing this, Mr. Zhang immediately grew anxious. "Hey, wait! You're far too impatient, young lady. I never said we couldn't negotiate."
Shen Moxi smiled secretly, then instantly pursed her lips and turned around. "Then you agree, Mr. Zhang?"
"Can I say no? Come on, I'll take you to sign the contract." Mr. Zhang sighed, got up, and led them to the study.
Shen Moxi flashed Song Qi a victory sign and followed, feeling pleased with herself.
Mr. Zhang had drafted the contract long ago. He took it out of a drawer and handed it to them.
Shen Moxi read the contract carefully. After finding no issues, she signed her name, then had Song Qi sign his as well. Finally, both parties pressed their fingerprints onto it, counted out the money face-to-face, and handed over the keys.
Mr. Zhang looked at Shen Moxi. "Bring the remaining payment by the day after tomorrow at the latest. I'm putting my trust in you. Someone will come to collect the rent every six months from now on. If market prices change later, we'll make the appropriate adjustments in advance. If someone wants to buy the place, we'll wait until your rental term ends before discussing it."
"All right. Thank you, Mr. Zhang. We'll get going, then. After we bring you the balance the day after tomorrow, we'll come renovate the place a few days later." Shen Moxi smiled and nodded.
"All right, I'll go out with you and take down that sign." Mr. Zhang wheeled out his bicycle as well.
Once everything had been taken care of, the two of them rode leisurely home on their bicycles. Riding ahead, Shen Moxi thought about what to take home and had Xiao Tao place the order automatically.
After some thought, she bought two jin of meat, two jin of eggs, a bag of flour, a packet of rock sugar, a packet of red dates, a packet of pastries, and some dried noodles.
After buying everything, she told Song Qi about it. When they were nearly home, they would find a secluded spot with no one around, take the things out, and bring them home. They would say they had earned some money today and bought a few things because supplies at home were running low.
Song Qi had nothing to add to her arrangements. She had thought things through even more carefully than he had. Besides, he wasn't very familiar with current prices either.
When they were nearly home, they took a long detour to a large ditch. Shen Moxi took out the goods and put them on the bicycle, and Song Qi wheeled it toward home.
When they got home, they saw that Song Yongjun and Huang Yushan were both there, tidying the courtyard.
Shen Moxi puzzled over it for a moment, then walked over with a smile. "Aunt Shan, we're back!"
The two looked up and saw Song Qi wheeling the bicycle, with goods on the crossbar and in the basket.
Huang Yushan walked over in surprise. "Moxi, where did all this come from?"
"Aunt Shan, Brother Song and I went into town today and found some translation work for a newspaper. They paid us over twenty yuan after we finished the job. Since things at home were running low, we bought a few things." Shen Moxi helped Song Qi unload the goods, and Song Yongjun hurried over to lend a hand.
Huang Yushan was deeply touched, but she also felt the girl was far too free with her money. "You silly girl, buying so much! You must have spent almost everything you two earned. If we need anything at home, your uncle and I will buy it. Don't spend money so freely again. Save it for yourselves."
"Aunt Shan, you're treating me like an outsider. We're all family, so why distinguish between yours and mine? If you keep treating me like an outsider, I'll go home." Feigning anger, Shen Moxi hugged her arm.
Huang Yushan patted the back of her hand and sighed. "All right, all right, I won't say any more. Our Qi is blessed to have married such a kind girl."
"All right, Aunt Shan, let's not talk about that anymore. I'll make dinner. You go rest," Shen Moxi said with a smile.
"I'll cook. You've been busy all day, so go get some rest." Huang Yushan shook her head.
Shen Moxi stopped her. "Let me cook today. I'll make you something delicious. Aunt Shan, try my cooking. Didn't you say it was good yesterday? I'll make something different for you today."
Helpless, Huang Yushan could only let her cook. Song Qi came over to help her and sent the other two back into the house.
Since Shen Moxi needed to get fresh vegetables from the system, she wouldn't dare take them out with those two there.
Tonight, Shen Moxi planned to make braised pork. She hadn't eaten it in a long time and was craving it. It would also be a good chance to nourish them, since the older couple usually couldn't bear to spend money on meat.